Boise Public Library
🏢 Boise Public Library System · Boise, Idaho
Boise Public Library
Founded in 1895 and famous for the exclamation point it added to its name in 1995, the Boise Public Library anchors the Treasure Valley from its downtown Main Library at 715 S Capitol Blvd — home to the Idaho Press Collection and LYNX! Consortium access, open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | 10am–2pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 715 S Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 972-8200
Website: boisepubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 85M5JQ6R+5V (Boise, ID)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Boise Public Library
The Boise Public Library is the public library system of Boise, Idaho, and traces its roots to February 1895, when the Columbian Club — a local women's organization — opened the city's first free reading room. Its downtown Main Library sits in a former Salt Lake Hardware Company warehouse at 715 S Capitol Blvd that the city converted into a library in 1973, and in 1995 the building famously gained the exclamation point that turned its sign into the now-iconic "LIBRARY!" The Main Library is the hub of a five-location system that also includes the Collister, Hillcrest, Cole & Ustick, and Bown Crossing branches. Boise is a member of the LYNX! Consortium, so a single Boise card borrows across eleven southern-Idaho library systems, and cardholders also reach statewide digital collections and the local Idaho Press Collection. As of 2026 the Main Library is completing a phased renovation of its first floor (electrical, plumbing, HVAC and expanded youth spaces), with the second and third floors — including a temporarily relocated Children's Area — open to the public.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Established February 1895 by Boise's Columbian Club; the Main Library moved into a converted 1946 Salt Lake Hardware warehouse at 715 S Capitol Blvd in 1973
- Home of the iconic "LIBRARY!" exclamation-point sign, added in 1995 to give the building a memorable identity
- Hub of a five-location system: Main plus the Collister, Hillcrest, Cole & Ustick, and Bown Crossing branches
- LYNX! Consortium member — one Boise card borrows across eleven southern-Idaho public library systems
- Idaho Press Collection offers searchable full-text local newspaper articles from June 2023 to the present
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Boise cardholders access statewide Idaho digital resources and the library's streaming and news collections:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Boise residents, plus digital library cards for e-resource access
- LYNX! Consortium borrowing across eleven southern-Idaho library systems on one card
- Idaho Press Collection — searchable full-text local newspaper archive
- Curbside pickup and holds service (available while the first floor is under renovation)
- Public computers, high-speed Wi-Fi and printing
- Meeting and study spaces at the Main Library and branches
- Youth Services and a relocated Children's Area during the renovation
- Interlibrary loan and reciprocal OverDrive borrowing across Idaho
🎸 Programs
- Weekly storytimes and early-literacy programs for young children
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Teen programs and activities
- Author talks, community events and cultural programming
- Technology and digital-skills help
- Adult learning and book-discussion programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Ada County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Boise Public Library sign have an exclamation point?
In 1994 Howard Olivier, owner of Boise's Flying Pie Pizza, suggested adding an exclamation point to the library's name to give it a fresh, memorable identity. The city approved it, and the new "LIBRARY!" signage was unveiled in January 1995. It has been a beloved local landmark and photo spot ever since.
Is the downtown Main Library open during the 2026 renovation?
Yes. The Main Library at 715 S Capitol Blvd is completing a phased renovation of its first floor — upgrading electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems and expanding youth spaces. The second and third floors are open to the public, the Children's Area has been temporarily relocated upstairs, and curbside and holds pickup remain available. The first floor is expected to reopen in fall 2026.
What does a Boise library card let me borrow beyond Boise?
Boise Public Library belongs to the LYNX! Consortium, a shared network of eleven southern-Idaho public library systems. That means one Boise card lets you search and borrow across all member catalogs — including nearby Eagle, Nampa and the Ada Community Library — using the shared online catalog and the Ida mobile app.
What are the Main Library's hours?
The downtown Main Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours at the Collister, Hillcrest, Cole & Ustick and Bown Crossing branches differ, so check the library website before visiting a branch.
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